Neovista Inc.

Aea Technology Qsa Gmbh

Aea Technology Osa Gmbh

Eberhard Fritz

Richard A Hillstead

Charles E Larsen

Roelof Trip

Rainer Pintaske

Mark Salman Humayun

Eugene deJuan

Eugene De Juan

Helmut Menuhr

Sabine Willenkamp

Gerd T Phillipps

Cory S Anderson

Gerd Phillips

Dave Hunt

Mark Shilton

A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end. A positioning system for the cannula is also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy

Methods and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy are disclosed in which a cannula is introduced into the eye for delivery of radiation to a target tissue. Techniques for properly locating the cannula with respect to the target tissue, for protecting non-target tissue, for regulating heat generated by x-ray emitters, and for combining therapies are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy

A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end.

According to the invention there is provided a radiation source for use in endovascular radiation treatment which comprises one or more and preferably at least two treating elements or seeds comprising a radiation emitting element and means for containment of said radiation emitting element which radiation source is characterized in that said seeds comprised in an elongated container having at least one deflection site. There is further provided an apparatus for endovascular radiation treatment comprising an elongated catheter, optionally a guide wire and the radiation source as defined above. According to another aspect there is provided a method for endovascular radiation treatment comprising the steps of directing an elongated catheter to the selected site to be treated, introducing a radiation source as defined above into the catheter at its proximal end portion, moving said radiation source to the distal end portion of the catheter preferably by use of a transfer wire, maintaining said radiation source at that distal end portion for a predetermined period of time and retracting said radiation source to the proximal end portion of the catheter preferably by use of a transfer wire.

Radiation source for endovascular radiation treatment

A flexible, radioactive radiation source in the form of a wire or other elongated shape, comprising a matrix of a ductile and/or plastic binder material and a radioactive and/or activatable material. The elastic binder material is preferably a metal, a metal alloy, or a radiation resistant plastic material, or a mixture of these, and the radioactive material, or activatable material once activated, is a &bgr;-emitter, a &ggr;-emitter, or an x-ray emitter. The source may be contained, for example, within a tube, capsule, or coating. The flexible, radioactive radiation source may be used for intravascular radiation treatment of cancer, tumor, non-malignant cell growth, scar tissue, or to prevent restenosis.

Radiation source for endovascular radiation treatment in form of a wire

A radioactive or activatable seed for use in brachytherapy, and a method for producing the seed, the seed comprising a closed and self-supported casing consisting of (a) a radioactive or activatable metallic material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy and a metal composite or mixtures thereof, optionally in combination with (b) a non-radioactive, non-activatable metallic material; wherein (a) comprises a radioactive nuclide selected from the group consisting of Pd-103, Tm-170, Sr-90, Y-90, Yb-169, P-32, Ge-71, Se-75, Cl-36, Ta-182, Tl-204, Re-188, W-188, Ce-144, Pr-144, Sn-123, Ru-106, Rh-106 and mixtures thereof, and/or an activatable precursor nuclide thereof selected from the group consisting of Pd-102, Rh-103, Tm-169, Y-89, Yb-168, P-31, Ge-70, Se-74, Cl-35, Ta-181, Tl-203, W-186, Sn-122 and mixtures thereof, excluding metallic Pd with natural abundance of Pd-102.

Growing community of inventors

Braunschweig, Germany

Eberhard Fritz